Educational device



Filed July 2l, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l VENTOR HIS AT ORNE Y/S April 19, 1932. 9 B. RALLS 1,854,999

EDUCATI ONAL DEVICE Filed July 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y fil?? 7 if/6 JNVENTOR lazml zll,

Patented' Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES BLO'UNT BALLS, OF BRONXVILLE, YORK EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Application filed July 21, 1930. Seria] No. 469,597.

The present invention relates to education- Y al devices and embodies, more specifically, a device for instructing a child in the nature and use of numbers. More particularly, the

5 invention embodies an improved device for' 1U in the device is sustained over a period of time sufficient to enable it to assimilate certain fundamental principles relating to numbers.

Heretofore there have been provided defi vices varying in character, in which numbers are used as a basis for a puzzle, etc. While bearing a certain degree of interes for a child, they do not instruct in a logical and systematic way but merely portray nu- ;f" merals in an abstract fashion requiring the child to-learn them by rote, if at all. As distinguished from such existing devices, the present invention presents the numerals to a child in a forceful and logical fashion indicating, graphically, the relationship between the various numerals and showing the manner in which their relative values may be compared.

An object of the invention, accordingly, is 555)' to provide a device, by means of which the science of numbers may be readily grasped. A further object of the invention is to provide a device which represents, graphically, the comparative values of the various numbers, additionally incorporating therein an arrangement of elements to form a puzzle.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which constitutes a puzzle not only in its entirety 4f* but which presents each separate number in puzzle form in order that the attention and interest of a child may be prolonged.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a device bearing the numeral 1 which is preferably portrayed in a distinctive color. y

Figure 2 is a plan view of an indicia bearing device composed of two segments and bearing the numeral 2 in a distinctive color.

Figure Bis af'plan yview of an indicia bearing device upon which the numeral 3 has been inscribed, this device being formed oft-hree 5. l segments. l

Figure 4 is a similar view of a device bear# ing the numeral 4, this device being formed of four segments. Figure 5 is a plan view of a similar device bearing the numeral 5, the device being formed of a corresponding number of seg; ments. 'l `f Figure 6 is a plan view of a similar device bearing the numeral 6 andI formed offa cor- 65v responding number of segments. i Figure 7. is a plan view of a similar device bearing the numeral 7, and formed of a cor-v responding number of segments. f' Y- r 1 Figure 8 is a plan view of a similar devic bearing the numeral 8, and formedof acor# responding number o f segments.` Figure 9 is a plan view of a simi-lardevi'ce bearing the numeral 9, and formed of aicoril responding number of segments. Figure 10 is a plan view of a similar device;- bearing the numeral l() formed of a corre- 4` sponding number of segments, the ydigitsfbeing so formed as to indicate the'relationship thereof to the numeral 1. i "80 Figure 11 is a device similar to `Figure 7y Abut provided with indicia rto indicate the relationshipv of the numeralto .a constellal tion. y `--i l .Referring to the above drawings,anfindi S5` cia bearing device a is shown, in Figurel, as being formed of a single piece, this device being provided with the ynumeral 1, as indi-4 cated at a. 'Within the outline of thenumeral, the value of a coin or other legend may -be inscribed, as indicated at a2, thus en-f abling the significance of the numeral torbegrasped more readily. It is tobenoted that this numeral is formed of only oneelement.-

The numeral'2 is shown in Figure 2 as be- J5 ing formed of two segments fb and The inscription ofthe numeral. is madevtowlie partially on each segment andthesegments" are so formed as to .have irregular shape,I thus facilitating the assembly thereof; .The '10Q numeral 2is shown at b2 as being of a distinctive color, thus further facilitating its assembly. p

Figure 3 illustrates a similar indicia-bearing device formed of three segments c, c', and 02. Upon these segments, the numeral 3 is inscrib ed,.as.. indicated atcg. As in thecase of Figure 2, ,the numeral 3 i is portrayed yin a distinctive color to facilitate the assembly of the several segments and to distinguish them from the segmentsoi' other numerals..

Figure 4 shows an indiciabearing device formed of four segments d, d', d2, and (Z3, the-v numeral 4 being inscribed partially upon each as indicated at d4. Thisnumeraliis also lpref'- erablyj. .ormed offra. distinctive color for the reason notedrabove. x v y Figure: 5 illustrates an indiciasbearing device formed loff-livesegments e, e', e?, e3, andet, gathe-,numerall5v being, incribed partially upon leach' as shown at e5. This numeralis also preferablyvormed-of a distinctive colorier the reasOnnotedabOVe. Y s l Figure 6 illustrates a similarvdevice formed gyogsix segments f, f,`f2, f3, 74, and f5, the numeral- 6, being, inscribed partially upon each as showvnlat. f6'. kThis numeral is alsoA preferably formed of a distinctive color for the-ireasonnoted above.V

Figurefr'illustrates a similar indicia-bear ing device formedof seven segments g, g, g2, gg; gil andfg?, the numeral 7 being inscribed partially upon each and formed ofa distinctive color, as indicated at g7.- Thisnumeral is 341115@ preferably formed ,of a .distinctive color Y felt-the reascin'nQted-above. Figure 8 shows a; similar device ormedzof eightsegments 11,711', h2, h3, h4, 71,5, he, and hiv, the jznumera'l 8' -being inscribed partially mV uponveach and ormed'of av distinctive color,

aandicatedzat its. This numeral isalso preferablsy formed cfa distinctive color for the reaseny-netedrabeva. v

1 Ei'gureii-showsr asimilar device formed-of .nine 'segments c', 2",.7?, 713,11*, 5, i6, 7, and 8,

' thesnume'ra-l Sbeingay inscribed partially upon i Veach off these; seements,y as indicatedy at 9. Tilisfnumerzalis also-.preferably formed; of a distinctive color for the reason noted above. `AEigme lOfillustrates a 'similar' device frmedef tenisegmentsj, y, j2, ja, jfj, js, jijtf, 4and j?, the numeral 10 `being inscribed partiallyalponeach. In :forming the numeralylnnthese segments, the digit lis shown at vNif, jtlf'and the .Zero atvjll.. It is preferred: that' the; zero have indicated vvithinzthey outline thereof; theinumberof units which thel numerallirepresents. The Zero preferably is shown:asaincludingften such coins'.V V

a0-j Figurerllj shows amodiiied form of ind'lea-bearingiY deviceupon which the numeral 7i'lias;beenrinseribed, the segments there'obeingarsirnilaritogthose.shown in Figure 7- and the; Iiumeralii including Within the outline wl thieoflaaconstellation, ysuch jas a zbig dipper kWhichrhas a number of stars equal to the number of segments of the numeral 7. In this manner, certain of the constellations may be taught the child in'addition to utilizing them as a basis for instructing in the science oi' numbers.

' Figure l2 is a view similar to Figure 9,

showing the 9 as includingfvvithin its outline a baseball diamond with the players arranged s in their proper positions. This indicates the manner in which gamesior other subjects may be taught in connection With the science ef numbers.

YVhile the invention has been described With specific' reference to the accompanying 80 drawings, it is not to. be limited, save as definedin the appended claim.` i

I claim as my invention :V

Numericalindicia carrying means, and al single numeral greater than unity inscribedv thereon, said means being formedof as many; segments as the inscribed numeral lrepresents; units, and a portion O-said, numeral being inscribed upon each segment.

This specication signed this 18th day\ of 90 July, A. D. 1930.

BLOUNT BALLS.. 

